Rope machine



Jan. 20, 1942.

J. M. CATTOOR ROPE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l m, Lm

Filed kJuly s1, 1941 @www Patemed Jan. 2o, 1942 UNITED `snrres vPATEN'I formels:

ROPE MACHINE Joseph M. Cattoor, Modesto, Calif. Application July 31, 1041, serial No. 404,945

Claims.

This invention relatesto a novel construction `of rope making machine, and more particularly to a machine of simple construction which may be readily operated for twisting a plurality of strands of rope material and for thereafter twisting the individual strands together to form a rope.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a machine having a.' removable and adjustable spreader for engaging the individual strands of the rope material, intermediate of their ends, so that where a rope is to be formed from frayed rope material the individual strands will be held sufficiently far apart so that there will be no danger of the frayed portions of the different strands from becoming tangled with similar portions of. the other strands.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for rotating the individual strands or for revolving the strands around one another, said machine being provided with a portable supportconstructed and arranged so that it can be moved by the tension of the strands for maintaining an equal pressure on the individual strands as they are twisted and rei duced in length thereby.

V tion will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings,

.which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

adapted to detachablyengage the hook II.

Figure l isa side elevational View showing the rope making machine in operation and showing a rope partly formed thereby,

Figure 2 is an `enlarged front elevational view of the strand twisting machine and its supporting strand,

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly invertical section of the gear housing of the rope twisting machine with the front cover thereof removed,

"ifi

or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I0 designates generally the rope making machine in its entirety, and whichV includes a conventional hook` II which is adapted to be anchoredvin a perpendicular surface such as a wall, indicated at I2. A frame I3 is provided with an eyelet I4 in one end thereof which is A hook I5 has its shank end swivelly connected to the opposite end of theframe I3. A U-shaped rod I6 has its `intermediateportion pivotally mounted in the frame i3, and said U-shaped rod I6 is provided with corresponding elongated ends for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I1 designates generally a stand having a base, designated generally I8 including a frame I 9 and a platform or floor 20 which is attached to the frame I9 and disposed thereabove. A roller 2I is journaled in the forward end of the frame I9 for supporting the forward end of the base I8 in an elevated position. As seen in Figure 1, the rear end of the base I8 is supported by the rear end of the frame I9 resting on a suitable supporting surface. The stand I1 is provided with a standard p0rtion 22 including a pair of corresponding upright bars 23 which are pivotally'connected at their lower ends by fastenings 2t to the base I8, adjacent the forward end of the frame I9. The upper ends 25 of the bars 23 are offset inwardly relatively to the lower ends thereof by means of the inwardly converging intermediate portions 26. A pair of braces 2l' are pivotally connected at corresponding ends thereof to the sides of the frame I9, intermediate of the ends of the base I8. A pair of braces 28 arepivotally connected at corresponding ends thereof to the portions 2S,

'intermediate of the ends thereof. The opposite,

adjacent and complementary ends of the braces 2'I and 28 are pivotally connected to one another by fastenings 29 `and* a brace 30 is also pivotally mounted at one end thereof on each of the fastenings 29. The opposite ends of the braces 30 are detachably connected to the lower ends of the portions 26 by means of fastenings 3l. It will thus be readily apparent that by disconnecting the braces 30 from the fastenings 3|, that the-braces 21 and 2B may be folded to permit the standard 22 to b e folded onto the base IB.

An elongated handle 32 is provided, adjacent 'zontal position on the upper end of the standard 22. As seen-in Figure 4, handle 32 is. provided with 'a bore 35 which extends longitudinally therethrough and through which extends a sleeve 36 which is turnably mounted therein. The bore is preferably provided with bushings 31 at the ends thereof, one of which is seen in Figure 4 and which seat in enlarged portions 38 at the ends of the bore 35 to provide means for journaling the sleeve 36.

A gear housing, designated generally 39 includes a rear section 43 and aforward section 4| which sections are detachably connected by means of a plurality of detachable fastenings 42. The sections 46 and 4| are provided with annular nanges 43 which abut, when the sections are connected, for spacing the sections from one another to form a chamber 44 therein. The rear section is provided with a thickened central portion 45, which is thickened on the outer side thereof and which is adapted to bear against the forward end of the handle 32. Portion 45 is provided with a centrally disposed threaded' opening 46, which extends therethrough, and which is adapted to engage the forward threaded end 41 of the sleeve 36. v

A shaft 48 extends loosely through sleeve 36 and through an opening 49 in the front section 4 I by means of which the forward end of the shaft 48 is journaled in the gear housing 39. The shaft 48 extends through and is keyed at 50 to a gear 5| which is disposed in the chamber 44.

A plurality of hooks 52 lproject outwardly from the front of the gear housing 33'. Hooks 52 each have a shank end which is journaled in alined openings 53 in the sections 45 and 4|. A pinion 54 is keyed at `55 to each ofthe shanks of the hooks 52. Pinions 54 are likewise disposed in the chamber 44 and each mesh with the gear 5|, as best seen in Figure 3.v

Referring to Figure l. a collar 56 is secured by means of a set screw 51 to the opposite end, not shown, of the sleeve 36 which projects from the rear end of the handle 32. 'Ihe collar 56 bears against the rear end of the handle 32 to combine with the gear housing 39 to prevent sliding movement of the sleeve 36relatively to the handle. The shaft 48 projects from the rear end of .the sleeve 36 and is provided, therebeyond, with a crank 58 on which is rotatably mounted a handleradially of the gear housing 33. As seen in Figure 3. the outer end of the barrel opens outwardly of the gear housing 38 and its inner end opens into the chamber 44. A sleeve is secured in the outer end of the bore of the barrel 65 and has an outer end which projects outwardly therefromand which is provided with diametrically opposed elongated notches 66" and shorter, diam'etrically4 opposed notches 61, which are disposed at right angles to the notches 66'. A plunger, designated generally 68 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 66 and is provided at its inner end with an enlarged head 63 which is slidably mounted in the inner end of the bore of the barrel 65. Head 69 is provided with an inner, free end having an outwardly bowed inwardly tapered side-10 and an inwardly bowed inwardly tapered side 1|, which sides combine to form a tooth 12 which is rounded on one side thereof and which is adapted to engage between adjacent teeth of the gear 5|, as seen in Figure 3. An expansion coil spring 13 is mounted on the plunger 68, between the inner end of the sleeve 66 and the opposite end of the head 68 for urging the plunger 68 inwardly of the gear housing 39 for holding the tooth 12 in the position, as-seen in' Figure 3. The opposite end of the plunger 68 projects outwardly from the outer end of theV sleeve 66 and is provided with a head or knob 14 by means of which the plunger can be manually retracted against the action of the spring 13. A pin 15 extends transversely through the plunger 68, near the knob 14 and is adapted to engage either of the pair of notches 66' or the pair of 59 for revolving the shaft 43 in the handle`32 for turning the gear 5| and the pinions 54.

As seen in Figure 4, the handle 32 is provided `with a recess 6|! whichopens outwardly of its forward end and which -is adapted to register with an opening 6| in the portion 45 of the section 46. A bolt 62 is siidably mounted in therecess 60 and is adapted to have its forward end disposed in thg opening 6|, whenin a projected position, for keying the gear housing 39 to the handle 32. Handle 32 is provided with a slot 63 which opens into the recess 60 and which is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the handle. to the bolt 62 and projects outwardly through. the slot 63 and is slidably mounted 4relatively thereto to'form an operator whereby the movement of the pin 64, relatively to the slot 63' will move the bolt 62 from a projectedposition. as seen in Figure 4, to a retracted position, within the recess 60, or conversely, by moving the pin 64 from one end to the opposite end ofthe slot 63.

A barrel 65, as best seen in Figure 3, is formed integral `with the flange l43 of the section 46 and --extends inwardly therefrom in a direction A pin 64 is attached at its inner end notches 61. When the pin 15 is in engagement with the notches 66 it will be obvious that the tooth 12 will be disposed for engaging between the teeth of the gear 6|, as in Figure 3, and by retracting the plunger 68 and turning it through an arc of degrees and then allowing the pin 15 toagain engage the notches 66', it will be apparent that the tooth 12 can again be positioned in -engagement with the teeth of the gear 5| but with its s ides 10 and 1| oppositely disposed relatively to the position of Figure 3. It willbe readily apparent that with the tooth 12, disposed, asin Figure 3, that the tooth will function to prevent the gear 5| from being turned in a counterclockwise direction but will allow the gear to turn in a clockwise direction as the rounded side 10 can ride over the gear teeth with the plunger 68 being retracted thereby against the action of its spring 13. Likewise, the side 1| will prevent the gear from turning in a counterclockwise direction. If the plunger-68 is turned through an arc of 180 degrees, as previously ex,

teeth of the gear 5| so that s'aid gear may be freely turned in either direction.

As seen in Figure l, the stand I 1 with the twisting mechanism mounted thereon is adapted to be remotely positioned relatively to the swivel hook |5- and a plurality of strands of rope material 16 are arranged therebetween with corresponding ends of the strands 16 connected to the rotatable hooks 52 and the opposite ends of the strands 16 connected tothe swivel'hook I5. Intermediate aardse? of the ends of the'strands 18 is mounted a reader, designated generally 11 which includes i. plurality of upwardly converging supporting legs 18 having eyelets 18 at their upper ends which are pivotally connected to one another by means of ay bolt 88 which extends therethrough. A plurality of spreader arms 8| are provided with eyelets 82 at corresponding ends thereof, which are likewise pivotally mounted on the bolt 88. A hanger 83' is supported by the bolt 88 and depends therefrom and is disposed between the legs 18. Hanger 83 is provided with a hooked shapedlower endadapted to be detachably connected to a weight 84. The opposite, free ends of the spreader arms 8l are bent to provide;

hooked shaped portions 85, the bills of which extend away from the boli; 8l. A wing nut 88 is carried b y the `bolt 88 and is adapted to be tightened for Irictionally clamping the eyelets 18 and 82 together to hold the supporting legs 18 in adjusted positions relatively to one another. and also to hold the spreader arms 8l in adjusted positions relatively to one another, as seen in Figure 5. Said hooked shaped portions 85 are adapted to each engage a strand 18, intermediate of its ends, as seen in Figure 1, for holding the strands 18, spaced a substantial distance apart, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. It will be readily apparent thatA the hooked shaped portions 85 are so arranged that the strands 'I8 will -be held in engagement therewith or may be readily disengaged therefrom.

A block 81, as seen in Figures 1, 6 and 7, is tapered from one end to the opposite end thereof and is provided with four equally spaced longitudinally extending grooves 88 in its outer side which converge and join at the rear end of. the block 81. Block 81 is provided with a handle 88 which extends transversely therethrough and which is provided with corresponding ends which project outwardly therefrom, between the grooves 88. Block 81 is also provided with longitudinally extending openings 88 which open outwardly of the forward end of the block 81 and which open outwardly of the outer portion of the block adjacent its rear end. A pair of openings or bores 90 are disposed substantially parallel and extend through the handle member 88 and are disposed substantially the same distance from one another as the ends of the U-shaped member I8.

The block 81 is adapted to be disposed, as seen in Figure 7, adjacent the swivel hook I and with the strands 18 engaging the grooves 88 for supporting the block 81. 'Ihe ends of the U- shaped member. I8 extend through the openings or bores 88 for preventingl the block 81 from rotating. Said block thus supports the U-shaped member I8 in substantially a horizontal position and with the hook I5 disposed between the ends or legs thereof which ends or legs prevent the hook I5 from turning in its swivel support I3. With the strands 18 thus engaging the` block 81,

vwith the intermediate portions of the strandsr engaging the hooked portions 85, and with the bolt 82 in the position, as seen in Figure 4, then the crank is turned for twisting the strands 18 all in the same direction, depending upon the position of the tooth 12, as previously described` by the rotation of the hooks 52 which are all turned inthe same direction by the operation of the crank 58. 'I'he spreader 11 is employed only if the strands 18 are of material which readily frays so that the frayed portions of the different strands might otherwise become tangled, for

holding the strands 18 well apart. Consequently, if the strands of rope `material 18 are such that they-do not have shreads or frayed portions projecting therefrom the spreader 11 may be omitted. As the strands 18 are thus twisted they will obviously be reduced in length. and the stand I1 will be moved toward the upright surface I2 by the tension of the strands 18 as they are twisted to maintain an equalized tension thereon. If

desired, thefoperator who is turning the crank 58 may stand on the platform or iioor 28 for hook I5 suiiiciently to disengage the U-shaped.

member I8 from the openings 88 to permit said member tol swing downwardly to its position of Figure 1 to thereby allow the portions ofthe strands 18, between the block 81 and the hook I5 to twist around one another, thus revolving the hook 'I5 to form 'the rope 82. The second operator then gradually allows the block 81 to move away from the hook I5, while the first operator continues to revolve the crank 58 for continuing the formation of the rope 82 until the block 81 approaches the spreader 11. y The spreader 11 is then detached from the strands 18 and removed and this operation of the movement of the block 81 and the turning of the crank 58 is continued until the block 81 reaches a point adjacent the gear housing 38. At any timeY during this operation, should the iirst op- 0 erator release the crank 58 it will be readily apparent that the plunger. 88 will prevent the strands from turning the hooks 52 in the opposite Vdirection to thus allow the strands to un` l wind. When the block 81 reaches a position adjacent the gear housing 38- it is detached from the strands 18. T he U-shaped member I8 is then returned to the position, as seen in Figure 7, and

thus held by the second operator to prevent rotation of the swivel hook I5 while the iirst operator moves the pin 84 to retract the bolt 82 for releasing the gear housing 38. By continuing to turn the crank 58 in the same direction, the tension on the twisted strandsV 18 will cause the gear casing 38 and the parts carried thereby to turn as a unit to form a uniformly twisted rope 82. With the hooks 52 then disposed so that the bills of the hooks are pointed inwardly, the strand ends can be detached therefrom and the opposite end of the rope can then be detached from the 60 swivel hook I5.

A short soft rope can be made without the use of the support I3 and the parts carried thereby, the spreader 11 or the block 81, by attaching the ends of the strands, that would ordinarily be attached to the hook I5. directly to the hook II. The forming of the rope can be performed by a single operator holding the parts carried by the handle 32 by grasping the handle 32, thus permitting the stand I1 to be dispensed with. With the bolt 82 in a projected position, as seen in Figure 4, the operator employs the other hand for revolving the crank 58 to twist the individual strands, after which the bolt 82 is retracted so that the housing 38 can be turned by the crank 58 for twisting the strands about one another to form the rope.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims, as only'a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rope making machine comprising a swivel hook having a frame in which the hook is swivelly mounted, said frame being adapted to be connected to an anchor means. a stand including a base having a roller at one end thereof and a standard pivotally connected to and projecting upwardly from said base adjacent said aforementioned end, brace means for holding said standard in an upright position, a turning i..- plement detachably connected to the upper end of said stand, said turning implement including a crank, a plurality of hooks, and gear means for connecting the crank to said hooks for revolving the hooks when the crank is revolved; said last mentioned hooks and swivel hook being adapted to be connected by strands of rope material, a spreader disposed between said swivel hook and stand, said spreader being provided with a plurality of pivotally connected armsvhaving hooked shaped free ends through which the individual strands loosely extend, a guide block having grooves for engaging said strands, said guide block having openings extending longitudinally therethrough, and a U-shaped member pivotally connected to the frame of said swivel hook, the ends of said U-shaped member being removably mounted in the openings of said guide block t0 prevent rotation of the guide'block, while in engagement with said U-shaped member, to hold the strands, at the ends thereof which are connected to the swivel hook, while the opposite ends of the strands are revolved.

2. A rope making machine as in claim 1, the brace means of said stand being formed of pivotally connected brace members, and said brace members being foldable for folding the standard onto said base.

3. In a rope making machine, a gear housing, a plurality of hooks journaled therein, a turning member journaled in the housing, a gear disposed in the housing and keyed to the turning member, pinions keyed to said hooks and disposed in the housing and enmeshed with said gear, said hooks being adapted to be connected to ends of strands of rope material for twisting the strands when the turning member is revolved, a sleeve portion formed in said gear housing and disposed radially thereof, a bushing mounted in said sleeve and projecting outwardly of the gear housing, a plunger slidably mounted in said bushing and provided with a head at its inner end, said head being slidably mounted in the inner end of said sleeve and being provided with a curved tooth for engaging between the teeth of said gear for preventing the gear from turning in one direction, spring means for urging said plunger inwardly of the sleeve, means for turning said plunger, when in a retracted position, for positioning the tooth so vthat its curved side will be facing in either direction relatively to the teeth of the gear for holding the gear against turning movement in either direction and for permitting the gear to be revolved in the other direction, and means for holding said plunger in a retracted position and out of engagement with the gear teeth.

4. A rope making machine comprising an anchored member, a hook swlvelly connected thereto, a plurality of rotatably mounted hooks remotely disposed relatively to said swivel hook, said rotatable hooks each being connected to an end of a strand of rope material, said swivel hook being connected to the opposite ends of said strands, a block disposed adjacent said swivel hook and having grooves adapted to engage said strands, said block being provided with vlongitudinally extending openings, a U-shaped member' pivotally connected to said anchored support and having its ends extending through the openings of said block, a spreader disposed between said swivel hook and said rotatable hooks, said spreader being provided with a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, said arms being provided with hooked shaped free ends for loosely engaging said strands for spreading the strands intermediate of their ends, and means for simultaneously revolving said rotatable hooks in corresponding directions for twisting the individual strands.

5. A rope making machine comprising va hook adapted to be connected to an anchor member, a head, a plurality of hooks journaled therein, means for rotating said Vlast mentioned hooks in unison and in the same direction, said last mentioned hooks being adapted to be connected to ends of strands of rope material, the first mentioned hook being adapted to be connected to the opposite ends of the strands, a spreader disposed between the first mentioned hook and the last mentioned hooks, said spreader having spaced portions for loosely engaging said strands, a stand for xedly supporting the spreader, while in use, a block, disposed between the first mentioned hook and spreader, and having means to engage the strands, and means detachably connected t0 the block for detachably engaging the iirst mentioned hook to hold it against rotation.

JOSEPH M. CATTOOR. 

